Pump for oil wells



atroz nu* f /7///////// /wlllaw d j M W w June 15 1926.

R. H. COPE E-r AL 'PUMP FOR OIL WELLS Filed July 25 1924 'Patented' June 15, 14926.

UNITED STATES RBERT H. COPE BOY HAY, I JACK-SON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOBS T0 .ALL mn 'VALVE COMPANY, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

l PUK? FOB OIL WELLS.

:Application med July 25, 1924. Serial No. 728,150.

This invention relates to improvements 1n pump constructions for -o1l wells and` more particularly to an improved construction for the plunger thereof. 1

An object of the invention resides in providing a pump construction for oil wells wherein the pump cylinder is providedwith a standing valve at the lower end thereof and an improved plunger construction operates said standing valve and includes a plurality of interconnected sections mounting a pair of flow cont-rolling valves and' having a plurality of expansible rings mounted in peripheral grooves on the outer surface of said plunger adapted for cooperation with the casing to prevent the accumulation of dirt and sand, and the leakage of oil past said plunger, in order that the oil passing through said pump will not he ground by said plunger and also preventing and reducing to a. minimum the cutting action of the sand and other foreign material on the plunger and the cylinder casing.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a plunger construction for' oil 4pumps wherein the same comprises a pair lof sections, each formed with a plurality-of peripheral grooves having perforated portions communicating with said grooves and the interior of the plunger which is formed with a bore for the passage of oil, each section being provided at the upper end'thereof with a seat for a suitable form of hall valve, adapted to control the flow through the bore of the plunger, and the peripheral groove receiving specially constructed rings, adapted for cooperation to prevent the passa ge of oil or sand between the plunger and the pump casing, and lalso adapted to normally maintain the same 'free and clear of oil and sand, which is directed. through the perforations into the bore of the plunger.

The invention includes other objects and improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts for carrying out the invention, which are more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description and claims, directed to a preferred form of the invention, it being understood, however, that various changesin the details of constructions and assemblage and arrangement ofithese parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope'v of this linvention 4as described and claimed.

I. In the drawing, forming a part of this application Figure 1 is an elevational view of the plunger constructed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the pump casing and the lun r mounted therein, showing the relation tween the parts and the detailed construction.' of the plunger.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one end of one of the packing rings of the lower set.

Figure 5 is a detail enlarged sectional v iew, .showing one of the 'upper packing rings in its respective groove.

Figure 6 is a detail enlarged sectional view through a portion of the body showin one o f the lower packing rings in expande position.

1 indicates the pump casing, which receives at the lower end thereof the standing valve structure 2, adapted to prevent a back iow through the lower end of the casing, and which is provided with the usual ca e 3, for limiting the opening movement of te v alve, having an upward y directed projection 4 extending from the central portion thereof. f

' The plunger vis indicated generally at 5, and as constructed according to the present invention includes upper' and lower sections 6 and 7 respectively, of tubular form, the upper section being formed adjacent the upper end thereof with a plurality of spaced annular grooves 8, on the eriphery thereof for receiving a plurality of)packng rings 9. The section 6 is forme with a plurality of perforations, indicated at 10, which provides communication between the lower ends of each of the plurality of peripheral rooves 8, and the interior of the section, in order that all oil and vsand and other foreign matterv will be scraped from the walls of the pump casing and. directed through the openings 10 into the central portion of the plunger, where the flow of oil will carry the same upwardly and outwa-rdlyvvfrom the well. The lower end portion ofthe section below the grooves 8 is v lower inner end thereof, with the threaded reduced upper end 12 of the lower section 7. This lower section 7 is rovided with a central bore 13, and the rc uced portion 12 is formed with a valve seat at the upper end thereof for the ball valve 14, which is adapted to be received in the enlarged bore l() of the upper section l6, and which is limited in its movement by the pin 15, Aextending transversely through the section 6, in spaced relation above the seat in the upper end of the section 7. This lower section is formed with a plurality of annular grooves, on the periphery thereof, indicated at 16, which are ada ted to receive a plurality of packing rings 17). 1

The section 7 is provided with a plurality of openings 18, communicating with the rooves 16, in order that the grooves may e maintained in a clean condition at all times, in a manner which will be presently described. Alternate grooves 16 are provided with slots 19 at diametrically opposite points through which project pins 20, carried by the U-shaped operating members 21, having a depending projection 22 extending below the lower end of the section 7, and ada ted for engagement with the projection 4 o the standing valve 2. Thel projections 20 are adapted to extend into the grooves 16 and seat in slots 23, formed in one end of the split ring 17, so that the rings may be retained in a contracted position in the groove 16, through the cooperation of the projection 20 and pin 24 seated 1n the section 7 and an opening in the opposite ends of the split rings 17. This construction is provided, in order that the plunger may be conveniently applied in the pump caslng, and after such application into its proper lace, it is moved downwardly until the pro- -jection 22 enga es the projection on the standing valve, or erasin one end of'each of the packing rings 17 1n order that the same may engage by expansion, the inner surface of the pump casing. These packing rings 17 are constructed in a special manner, having the lower surfaces thereof inclined as indicated at 25, and the upper outer cornersthereof bevelled as indicated at 26. It will be seen that by constructing the packing ring 17 in this manner, that in the downward movement of the plunger in the pump casing, all oil on the inner surface thereof will be effectively removed therefrom and forced through the opening 18 into the central portion of thebore of the plunger where the sand or oil and other foreign matter is carried upwardly with the fiow of liquid.

The packing rings 9 in the grooves 8 of the upper section are formed with upwardly directed project-ions 27, the inner surface inclined downwardly and inwardly, while thelower edge of the ring, at the outer periphery thereof is bevelled, as indicated at 28, so that the rings will scrape the oil and' sand from the pump casing and direct it inwardlythrough the opening 8, into thecentral portion of the section 6, and also passing therethrough, which will carry olf sand and other foreign matter upwardly with the low of oil, and revent the accumulation or working of san in between the plunger and the pump casing. The upper end of the section 6 is formed with an annular valve -seat 29 for the ball valve 30, and a reduced threaded portion 31, for threadedly receiving the lower end of the cage 32 fitting over the valve 30 and adapted to retain the same in position to engage the seat. The cage -member 32 is formed with a threaded projecltion 33, thereon, adapted for connection to the usual pump rod.

The packing rings 9, as well as the packing ring 17 are of split form and provided with overlapping end portions adapted to permit of a relative expansion and contraction of the ring during the operation in the pump casing, but which will not provide a passage between the ends, which would permit a flow of oil thereby.

In inserting the plunger construction 5, into the pump casing, all of the packing rings 17 are contracted and retained in this position by means of a U-shaped member 21,

aving the projections 2O thereon seating in the slots 23, formed in one end of the ring, so that the plunger may be lowered through the pump casing to the bottom portion thereof, where it is adapted for reciprocating movement in pumping oil upwardly throu h the casing. In inserting the plunger, .t e ring 9, having the bevel 28 will not interfere in any way, with the insertion thereof, as the bevels will ride over any projections into this casing, and cause a corresponding contraction of the rings on the section 6. As the plunger engages the bottom end of the pump casing, the projection 22 engaging the projection 4 on the standing valve 2 releases the packing ring 17, so that the same may immediately expand and engage the inner wall of the pump casing, for a subsequent cooperation with the packing rings 9, to prevent oil .and sand from entering between the plunger and the pump casing, in the manner above pointed out. l

It will be noted that the bevelled outer peripheries of the rings 9 are projected upwardly, while the bevelled outer peripheries of the rings 17 are projected downwardly, and from this it will be seen that in the reciprocation of the plunger in the pump casing, the walls of the casing will be eli'ectively cleaned of all oil and sand, which vare directed by the ilow of oil downwardly and inwardly with respect to the ring into .the grooves 8 or 17,-as thecase may be, and through the openings 10 or 18 into the central portion of the plunger where an `up ward How of oil or other fluid contained 1n the casing, is effected through the cooperation of the valves 14 and 30.

It has been found by practical experiment that this construction of plun er will wear substantially longer than t e types of plungers now in Ause for. umping oi wherem fibrous or leather pac ing rings are used, and that substantially no wear is occasioned on the oil being pumped throu h the plunger or on the pump casing, throug the sand engaging the punger and ring surfaces and the inside wall of the casing. Itis also found that by the elimination of these disadvantages and the provision of metallic rings constructed as above set forth, the

speed of the plunger may be materially increased, and as a result thereof reduce the tendency of sand and other grit to settle around the plunger and retard the operation of the same and in practical operation, the flow of oil from one pump havin the plunger constructed as above described, can be increased substantially 100 barrels per day, than with the type 4of plunger now in use. This results from maintaining the plunger and pump casing in a clean condition and providing for the elimination of sand in the plunger and packing ring and between the plunger and pump casing, which materially decreases the amount of power reuired for operating the pump to overcome iiriction. It will thus be seen that a substantially simple and elicient construction has been provided for oil well pump plungers having a longer wear andy a greater pumping capacity than the types of plungers now in use.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A pump plunger comprising a tubular body member having a plurality of annular grooves formed in the periphery thereof, split packing rings mounted in said grooves having bevelled projections on the sides thereof adjacent the outer peripheries, said rings being arranged in sets with one set having the projections extending in one direction and the other set having the projections extending in the opposite direction, and means for engagementl and cooperation with one set of rings for holding the same in a contracted inoperative position, said means being operable to release the rings from said inoperative position.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a tubular body member having a p`urality of annular grooves formed in the periphery thereof, expansible split packing rings mounted in said grooves and formed with bevelled projections on the sides thereof adjacent the outer periphery, said rings being arranged in sets, one set having the projections extending in one direction, and the other set having the projections extending inthe opposite direction, one setA of rings having one end anchored'relative to said body, and means having locking cooperation with the other ends of said ring to hold the rings in inoperativel and contracted relation on the body, said 'means being releasable for permitting the ex ansion of the rinr relative to the body or cooperation with the (pump casin y 3. A evice of tge character described comprising a tubular body member having a plurality of annular grooves formed in the' periphery thereof, ex ansible split packing rings mounted in sai grooves having beveiled projections formed on the sides thereof adjacent the outer periphery, said rings being arranged in sets, with one set having the projections extending in one direction, and the other set having the projections extending in the opposite direction, the rin s of one set having the ends anchored to said body member, a U-shaped holding member having a plurality of proections thereon mounted in said body mem er, and havin the projections extending through slotte portions communicating with the annular groove in said body member, said rojections being adapted to engage in slots ormed in said rin for locking cooperation therewith to ho d the rings in contracted rela.- tion in said body, and said holding member being operable to release said ring for permitting thev expansion thereof and cooperation with a pump casing.

4. A device of the class described comprising a body member formed of a pair of tubular interconnected sections, one end ofeach section being formed with a valve seat, a valve for cooperation with each seat, a cage member for retaining the valve in position to engage the seat in one member, said cage member being connected to one section of said member and adapted for mounting the member on a pump rod, each of said sections havin a plurality of annular rooves formed in t e periphery thereof, an a plurality of openings establishin communication between the ygrooves an the interior of the sections, a plurality of packing rings mounted in said grooves formed with bevelled projections on one side thereof adjacent t e outer periphery, the projections on the rings in one section being extended in.

a direction opposite to the projections on the rings of the other section.

5. A device of the class described comprising a body member formed of a pair o tubular interconnected sections, one end of each section being formed with a valve seat, a valve for cooperation with each seat, a cage member for retaining the valve in position to engage the seat in one member, said cage member being connected to one -section of said member and adapted for mounting the member on a pump rod, each of said sections having a plurality of annular grooves formed in the peripher -thereof, and a plurality of openings establishing communlcation between the rooves and the interior of the sections, a purality of packing rings mounted in said grooves formed with bevelled rojections'on one side thereof adjacent t e outer periphery, the projections on the rings 1n 'one sectlon being extended 1n la direction Opposite to the proj ections on the rings of the other section, said packmgv rings being split and the rings carried by one section having one end anchored relarive to said section, and a holding member formed with a plurality of projections ex# 15 tendingr through slotsformed in the section adapted for cooperation with the opposite ends of said rings, for holdingthem in con ROBERT H. COPE. ROY MAY. 

